halfway

/ˌhɑːfˈweɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌhæfˈweɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhaf-ˈwā ˈhäf-/ (ame, mw)

halfwaypositive
halfwayercomparative
halfwayestsuperlative

1.形容詞B1

釋義

Describing a place, time, or stage positioned with the same distance separating it from both ends.

例句

The café is at a halfway point between Zayd's office and the train station.

collocation: halfway point

The runners reached the halfway mark of the race just before noon.

collocation: halfway mark

同義詞

midway
Nearly identical in meaning; slightly more formal and often used in written directions or game descriptions.
central
Broader meaning — refers to the middle area, not necessarily at an equal distance from two specific points.
intermediate
More technical; used for stages, levels, or positions in a sequence rather than physical distance.

反義詞

extreme
Describes the farthest ends rather than the middle.
end
The final point rather than the midpoint.

文法句型

halfway + noun (point, mark, stage)

halfway between + noun + and + noun

be halfway (predicative)

用法筆記

Common in spatial contexts and time-based processes (race, journey, project). The predicative form usually requires 'between': 'The town is halfway between London and Oxford.' Without a second reference point, use attributive form: 'a halfway point.'

常見錯誤

❌We stopped at the half way mark.

✅We stopped at the halfway mark.

💡'halfway' is written as one word in standard English.

❌The hotel is halfway.' (when no second reference is given)

✅The hotel is halfway between the airport and the city centre.

💡As a predicative adjective, 'halfway' needs 'between X and Y' or a clear context.

2.形容詞B2

釋義

Achieving only part of what is needed or expected; falling short of being thorough or complete.

例句

The committee rejected the plan as a halfway measure that solved nothing.

collocation: halfway measure

Élise's halfway apology only made her friend more upset than before.

collocation: halfway apology

同義詞

partial
Neutral in tone; simply means not complete, without the disapproving nuance of 'halfway'.
incomplete
Focuses on what is missing; more formal and factual.
imperfect
Emphasizes flaws or faults rather than incompleteness.

反義詞

complete
Thorough and covering everything needed.
thorough
Done with full attention to every detail.
full
Leaving nothing out; containing everything expected.

文法句型

halfway + noun (measure, solution, effort, apology, attempt)

用法筆記

Almost exclusively used attributively (before a noun). Often carries a mildly disapproving tone — a halfway effort or solution is seen as insufficient, not just partial.

常見錯誤

❌Her apology was halfway.

✅She gave a halfway apology.

💡This sense of 'halfway' is nearly always used before a noun, not predicatively.

❌The solution was only halfway done.

✅The solution was only a halfway measure.

💡'halfway done' describes progress (adverbial sense), not the quality of incompleteness (adjective sense).

1.副詞B2

釋義

To a degree that is acceptable but not impressive; fairly but not extremely.

例句

The hotel was halfway decent, though not as nice as the pictures suggested.

collocation: halfway decent

Kabir can play the piano halfway well after three years of lessons.

collocation: halfway well

同義詞

moderately
Neutral and more formal; does not carry the informal tone of 'halfway'.
fairly
Common in both speech and writing; implies a positive evaluation more often than 'halfway'.
somewhat
Slightly more detached; suggests a smaller degree than 'halfway' typically implies.

反義詞

completely
To the fullest extent.
extremely
To a very high degree.

文法句型

halfway + adjective (decent, good, interesting)

halfway + adverb (well, properly)

用法筆記

Almost always modifies an adjective or another adverb directly after it ('halfway decent', 'halfway well'). Unusual with verbs — 'halfway finished' is possible but 'nearly finished' or 'partially finished' is more common. Informal register; avoid in formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌The food was halfway.' (when you mean 'moderately good')

✅The food was halfway decent.

💡'halfway' as an adverb needs a following adjective; it cannot stand alone.

❌She is halfway good at tennis.

✅She is a halfway decent tennis player.

💡'halfway good' is rare; 'halfway decent' is the standard informal expression.

2.副詞B1

釋義

At or to a point that is equally far from two ends or places; part of the way along a journey, distance, or process.

例句

Adina was halfway to the airport when she realised she had forgotten her passport.

halfway + to + destination

The bus broke down halfway through the journey to the beach.

halfway + through + noun

同義詞

midway
Interchangeable in spatial senses; 'midway' is slightly more formal.
partway
Emphasises that you have covered some but not all of the distance; less precise than 'halfway'.
midpoint
A noun, not an adverb; refers to the exact middle location rather than the movement toward it.

反義詞

fully
All the way to the end.
completely through
Having gone the entire distance.

文法句型

halfway + preposition (to, through, up, down, along, across)

halfway + adverb of degree (over, done)

用法筆記

The most common adverb sense. Frequently followed by a preposition of direction (to, through, up, down, along, across, around). Can also appear with verbs of progress: 'be halfway done', 'be halfway finished'.

常見錯誤

❌I read half way through the book.

✅I read halfway through the book.

💡'halfway' is a single word, not two words.

❌She ran halfway.' (with no destination or reference)

✅She ran halfway to the bus stop.

💡This sense needs a prepositional phrase or clear context to be meaningful.

halfway

halfway — adjective

1. Describing a place, time, or stage positioned with the same distance separating

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

2. Achieving only part of what is needed or expected; falling short of being thorou

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

halfway — adverb

1. To a degree that is acceptable but not impressive; fairly but not extremely.

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

2. At or to a point that is equally far from two ends or places; part of the way al

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤